Parks and Rec offers field trips during holiday school break

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The thought of a Kevin McCallister scenario from the “Home Alone” movies can cause any parent to panic while leaving their kids at home during the holiday school break.

During the days surrounding school break, the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission again offers an alternative to couch potatoing and test driving a sled down the stairwell with the Get Up & Go Holiday Camp for children 7-12 years old.

“The idea behind it is to help working families with daycare and give the kids something to do on vacation,” said Ted Davis, parks and recreation superintendent. “This gives people options. Maybe you’re off work, but maybe you don’t want them home all day, playing the video games.”

With a different field trip every day, Get Up & Go Holiday Camp provides an opportunity for kids to have four mini adventures in the month of December. The field trips cost $62 per day for residents and $72 per day for nonresidents before Dec. 16. Transportation, activity fees and staff member costs are included in the registration price, but participants are responsible for their own lunches. Registering after Dec. 16 is an additional $5. The holiday camp lasts 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and begins at the Family Aquatic Center.

The following trips are offered for the Get Up & Go Holiday Camp:

• Hands on Museum in Ann Arbor Monday, Dec. 23.
• Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Thursday, Dec. 26.
• Live Animal Show with swimming and games at the Family Aquatic Center Friday, Dec. 27.
• Ice Skating and Bowling at Hartfield Lanes in Berkley.

Parks and Recreation has offered the holiday camp for at least four years, said Nancy Keener, recreation coordinator, but because a minimum of 10 participants is necessary for the events, Parks and Recreation has canceled the program each year. If the program is again canceled, Kenner said they will refund the registration fees.

The coordinators will evaluate the number of registrants to determine this year if they will provide the trip, Davis said.

“We’ve had a tradition of success with summer camp programs, but we really shied away from the school break camps in the past,” he said. “I don’t understand, because there’s a need for it out there. Most people work jobs, and it’s hard to get something for your kids to do.”

For those who are part of the free and reduced lunches with the school systems, Parks and Recreation offers scholarship discounts, making the program more affordable for those in need.